DA supports Parliament's Public Protector action

23rd June 2017 By: News24Wire

DA supports Parliament's Public Protector action

The Democratic Alliance (DA) will support Parliament's application for a review of Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane's recommendation that the legislature amend some clauses in the Constitution relating to the SA Reserve Bank (SARB).

Welcoming Parliament's announcement that it would apply to have Mkhwebane's recommendations set aside, Democratic Alliance MP Glynnis Breytenbach said on Friday that the party agreed that Mkhwebane was overreaching her mandate.

''The 'remedial actions' listed by Mkhwebane, which included amending parts of the Constitution in respect of the mandate of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), constitute a significant overreach of the Public Protector's Constitutional mandate - only the National Assembly has the power to make changes to the Constitution,'' said Breytenbach.

''The Public Protector’s remedial action has had a negative effect on the value of our currency and ratings agencies have expressed their deep concern over the proposed erosion of the independence of the SARB.''

She reiterated the DA's reservations about Mkhwebane's suitability for the post of Public Protector.

''We thus support this vital step taken by Parliament and will continue to investigate avenues to ensure that the Public Protector fulfils her mandate and does not overreach to the detriment of South Africa.''

On Thursday night Parliament stated it would join Absa and the SARB in asking a court to set aside Mkhwebane’s recommended remedial action, on their interpretation of it being unlawful.

On Monday Mkhwebane released findings of a probe into a bailout to Bankorp in the 1980s, which was later bought by Absa. She recommended that the Special Investigating Unit begin procedures aimed at recovering the money.

Absa denies that it owes SARB R1.125bn, saying it met that obligation by October 1995.

Mkhwebane also recommended that Parliament must amend a paragraph in the Constitution that removes reference to "protect the value of the currency".